Investigative Update: Fatal Shooting on Pearl Street in Northglenn
Brighton, CO —Today, District Attorney Brian Mason and Northglenn Police Chief Jim May are providing an update on the investigation into the fatal shooting that occurred on Pearl Street in Northglenn on October 2, 2022.
Joint Statement of District Attorney Brian Mason and Northglenn Police Chief Jim May
"On October 2, 2022, at approximately 2:00pm, a 15-year-old male and a 16-year-old male were fatally shot in the backyard of a residence along Pearl Street in Northglenn. The Northglenn Police Department conducted a thorough investigation of the incident. The Northglenn Police Department and the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office jointly reviewed all of the evidence for legal decisions related to arrest and charging. A summary of the entire investigation is made available with this statement.
After a thorough review of the evidence, the District Attorney’s Office and the Northglenn Police Department together concur that no arrest or charges should be filed in this case. The evidence reveals that, on the afternoon of Sunday, October 2nd, the residents of the home where this incident occurred saw an unknown and uninvited male in their backyard cutting the leaves and branches of their marijuana plant with a machete. A resident of the home grabbed a .45 caliber handgun, went outside, and said “Really? Get out of here.” In response, the unknown male ran into a shed-like structure attached to the residence. The resident said he then was targeted with multiple gunshots. He saw muzzle flashes aimed in his direction and heard several gunshots come from inside the shed. The resident then returned fire. The two male teens were inside the shed when this exchange of gunfire occurred. Each suffered gunshot wounds as a result of the shooting incident. One of the males died on scene and the other died at a local hospital. The resident was not injured.
When Northglenn Police arrived, they recovered a .40 caliber handgun and three fired .40 caliber shell casings near the bodies in the shed. They also found a large machete-style knife just outside the entrance to the structure. Ballistic evidence at the scene shows that shots were fired from inside the shed in the direction of the resident, who was outside the shed.
It was later determined that the deceased male teens were suspected of trespassing at another property in the area that same day. According to eyewitnesses and evidence from that scene, the two males allegedly broke into that nearby home shortly before the shooting by throwing an object through a window. While inside this property, they allegedly stole an air soft gun. This air soft gun was recovered inside of a bag at the scene of the subsequent shooting.
The outcome of this incident is tragic. Two teenagers are dead, and their loss is heartbreaking. The District Attorney’s Office and the Northglenn Police Department must follow the law and the evidence, however, and the evidence clearly shows that the resident of the home acted in self-defense when he returned fire after being fired upon multiple times. Therefore, the resident will not be arrested or charged in this incident."
Click on the link below to review a redacted copy of the Northglenn Police Department Report from this incident.
NGPD Report October 2, 2022 Pearl Street Shooting
Go Back Joint Statement of District Attorney Brian Mason and Northglenn Police Chief Jim May
"On October 2, 2022, at approximately 2:00pm, a 15-year-old male and a 16-year-old male were fatally shot in the backyard of a residence along Pearl Street in Northglenn. The Northglenn Police Department conducted a thorough investigation of the incident. The Northglenn Police Department and the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office jointly reviewed all of the evidence for legal decisions related to arrest and charging. A summary of the entire investigation is made available with this statement.
After a thorough review of the evidence, the District Attorney’s Office and the Northglenn Police Department together concur that no arrest or charges should be filed in this case. The evidence reveals that, on the afternoon of Sunday, October 2nd, the residents of the home where this incident occurred saw an unknown and uninvited male in their backyard cutting the leaves and branches of their marijuana plant with a machete. A resident of the home grabbed a .45 caliber handgun, went outside, and said “Really? Get out of here.” In response, the unknown male ran into a shed-like structure attached to the residence. The resident said he then was targeted with multiple gunshots. He saw muzzle flashes aimed in his direction and heard several gunshots come from inside the shed. The resident then returned fire. The two male teens were inside the shed when this exchange of gunfire occurred. Each suffered gunshot wounds as a result of the shooting incident. One of the males died on scene and the other died at a local hospital. The resident was not injured.
When Northglenn Police arrived, they recovered a .40 caliber handgun and three fired .40 caliber shell casings near the bodies in the shed. They also found a large machete-style knife just outside the entrance to the structure. Ballistic evidence at the scene shows that shots were fired from inside the shed in the direction of the resident, who was outside the shed.
It was later determined that the deceased male teens were suspected of trespassing at another property in the area that same day. According to eyewitnesses and evidence from that scene, the two males allegedly broke into that nearby home shortly before the shooting by throwing an object through a window. While inside this property, they allegedly stole an air soft gun. This air soft gun was recovered inside of a bag at the scene of the subsequent shooting.
The outcome of this incident is tragic. Two teenagers are dead, and their loss is heartbreaking. The District Attorney’s Office and the Northglenn Police Department must follow the law and the evidence, however, and the evidence clearly shows that the resident of the home acted in self-defense when he returned fire after being fired upon multiple times. Therefore, the resident will not be arrested or charged in this incident."
Click on the link below to review a redacted copy of the Northglenn Police Department Report from this incident.
NGPD Report October 2, 2022 Pearl Street Shooting
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